Finding my Tempo: Freedom on an eBike

Kaitlyn Huynh experiences the freedom of a Tempo eBike and takes a 12.5 mile journey without worrying about keeping pace with bike enthusiasts.

After hitting the send button to confirm the biking plans with my uncle, I was giddy and excited to have something on the calendar to get myself out of the house. It’s been awhile since I did something outdoorsy and was looking forward to being active again with my new Tempo ebike. Fast forward to a day before our bike ride; I asked my uncle what route we were taking and jokingly emphasized it should be a leisurely ride. I wasn’t looking for a crazy workout since I was well aware that he’s one of those cycling enthusiasts who’ll easily go for a 50-mile ride. On the contrary, the last time I was on a bike was roughly six years ago, and that was taking a few spins around my neighborhood.

You see, I’m one of those people who like to be active but hadn’t pushed myself to do so often enough that the initial excitement of enjoying a fun day outdoors ends up being shadowed by my trepidations of being out of shape, fear of not being able to keep up. Will people judge or tease me if I have to take more frequent breaks or end up having to hop off my bike to push it along? Sadly the self-doubt clouded my interest, and I silently wonder if I should beg off the plans with some sort of excuse. However, I decided I was going to go and enjoy Sunday Funday and quash any anxiety I had.

Sunday morning came around, and I was ready for this jaunt of ours. It was 8 am, and there was a slight breeze accompanying the already sunny skies. It was going to be a beautiful day, and I was determined to enjoy myself. My uncle quickly hopped on his bike and led us to the main road to the Alameda Creek Trail. Because it was still early in the morning, not many people were on the trail giving way for us to maintain a nice speed.

With every push of my pedal, the worries I had about not being able to keep up with him melted away. It was quickly replaced by this sense of freedom and euphoria that riding a bike can bring; feeling untethered like a kid in the big open outdoors. The air was fresher, the flowers smelling sweeter, and the sky bluer. There were a few small dips and hills along the way that would have previously provided a major challenge for me, but with the pedal assistance from my Tempo ebike, I conquered them easily. Before I knew it, we had reached the end of the trail and were met with a beautiful view of the water. We quickly stopped to take pictures to document that we – I did it! It was so much easier than I thought and I was amazed at how much farther I was able to go without thinking twice about whether or not my uncle was going to leave me in the dust. Each time I felt I needed that extra zip, I pushed the button once or twice to increase the assist and voila, I kept up.

On the way back, rather than follow him, I decided to take the lead and see how I could push myself to go. We were faced with the headwind as well, so I wanted a little less resistance and an extra burst of power to go faster. I was amazed that I didn’t break a sweat when I rode by at 15+ mph. By the time we reached our starting point, I had checked my stats and saw that we clocked 12.5 miles during our leisurely bike ride. It was such a pleasant surprise to see this and feel a sense of accomplishment that not only did I not give into my insecurities, but also allowed myself to enjoy a beautiful Sunday morning with my uncle while bonding in an activity he enjoyed.

This experience truly made me appreciate my Tempo ebike as it provides that little nudge I needed from both a mental and physical perspective – a confidence booster if you will. The following quote captures the sentiment well and I can’t wait for my next ride!

It’s not what you ride, but that you ride. It’s not how fast you go, it’s about enjoying the ride. It’s not when you started riding, but continuing to ride each day. – Kaitlyn Huynh